How To Breathe When Running »
“How should I breathe while running?” How to breathe correctly is one of the most often asked beginning runner questions. ‘How to breath properly while running’ is one of the most searched for topics here at Complete Running. This article contains tips and video to show you the correct way to breathe while running.
Slow Down! »
If you could determine the one bit of running advice dispensed and received more often than any other, it would probably be “Go out slow.”
Wisdom From Winners »
Gertrude Stein once famously said that the answer is there ain’t no answer.
The Mile High Club: Running at Altitude »
Are you a member of the Mile High Club? No, not the one that involves airplanes and sardine can acrobatics. I’m talking about running
Seeking Orthotic/Shoe Harmony? »
You’ve just dropped $300-$500 US on brand spanking new orthotics, popped them into your $120 running shoes and ouch! It feels like you’re running with two planks strapped to your feet.
Do You Need a Doctor Who Runs? »
Every runner who has been at it for more than a few months likely has come up with some kind of ache, pain or injury that was serious enough to land you in a doctor’s office.
Very Superstitious »
Many athletes have quirky superstitions, like the hockey goalie who talks to his posts or the baseball player who refuses to wash his shirt between games. Some sports just seem to lend themselves to superstitions and eccentric routines.
Shhhh! There’s a Baby in the House »
Things you can do when you have a new baby in the house, and she stops you from running (babies have that power): Buy a jogging stroller. It will take a few months until she’s big enough to go in it, but you can immediately start dreaming about your quality time together. Rest. Remember, recovery [...]
Tips for the Traveler »
I’ve had success and failure, and here’s my quick list of what works and what doesn’t. 1. If possible, plan your hotel location. For a client I’ve got near Baltimore, I’ve had great running trips when I stayed near a bike path/multi-use trail that I could get to safely on foot. And I’ve had not [...]
I Run Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death »
After a long deep sleep and a substantial breakfast I headed out for a morning run with exercise physiologist Mike Siemens. He’s an experienced triathlete and in 2006 he ran Boston, which is my ultimate goal. His plan is to observe my gait and give me an interval workout to improve the efficiency of my [...]
The Perfect Day »
Runners hear a lot of advice. Sometimes, too much advice. Don’t get me wrong—I’m all for healthy living. But you can drive yourself crazy trying to do everything that experts recommend. I’ve gathered a large sampling of advice and put together a blueprint for a Perfectly Healthy Day. How many of these things can you [...]
Seven Lessons for Becoming a Happier Runner »
The other day I discovered a Wall Street Journalstory that distilled findings from academic studies of human happiness into seven lessons. The list related to money and careers, but I wondered how runners could use it to become the best they can be. Here are the lessons and explanations configured for both the casual and [...]
Spousal Support »
What would we do without them? It’s tough getting up on a Sunday morning and doing that 20-miler, but what a joy to return home and find your spouse or significant other has a stack of your favorite pancakes waiting for you. We enjoy our enthusiasms because the sacrifices we make on their behalf don’t [...]
A Bad Air Day »
Driving this weekend through California’s San Joaquin Valley, it was hard not to notice agricultural-related aromas, such as a massive methane-producing livestock ranch or freshly fertilized farmland. It got me thinking: Sometimes air really stinks. This is nothing new, of course. Air quality has been a problem for many decades, and the recent emphasis on [...]
Flexibility: Not Just for Muscles »
You’ve heard it a million times. “Don’t try anything new on race day.” It’s good advice, especially for those tempted to wear the new running shoes or apparel they bought at the race expo the day before. I follow it religiously. Every morning I get up at 4 a.m., have my wife drive me to [...]
The Birds, the Bees, and the Yappy Little Dogs »
Animal encounters are the price of sharing the great outdoors with God’s creatures, but perhaps because runners cover so much territory we seem to have more than our share. I’ve had a gash opened on my calf by a nine-pound yapping monster—on a retractable leash, mind you—and had a huge friendly Labrador follow me on [...]
How to Start a Running Club »
Many people think running is a solitary sport. It sure can be – after all, one of the great aspects of running is that it is a simple sport. You don’t need much gear and you can run anytime, anyplace, anywhere (with a few exceptions). But running can also be a social sport. There are [...]
Murphy Was a Runner »
Your chances of an injury rise proportionally with the amount of the entry fee you just paid. If a race brochure says “no dogs or strollers,” you will see a dog get hit by a stroller. You will set a PR the day your chip falls off at the starting line. If that cute guy/girl [...]
Run Against Your Old Self »
Whether you have been running for two weeks or two decades, you are constantly asking yourself, “Why can’t I run faster?!” Your enjoyment upon reaching a new PR lasts about as long as that ice cream cone or latté you treated yourself to. There’s nothing wrong with establishing, then exceeding, new benchmarks. Your expectations should [...]
Running on the Run »
One of the things that a lot of us struggle with is continuing to stick to a training program despite having to travel for work or pleasure. Having spent some time on the road recently, here’s a couple of suggestions for racking up both frequent flier miles and training miles: Pack it in. You can’t [...]
Tips for Beating the Heat »
Good Morning Boys and Girls! As I’m sure those of you who live in the Northern Hemisphere have noticed, it’s summer. As such, we’re having to deal with weather that is, in technical terms, sucky. It’s hot at lunch, and it’s sticky in the mornings and the evenings. In short, it’s a wonderful time to [...]
Top 10 Questions Asked by Beginning Runners »
Learn how to run! This article contains the most common questions asked by new runners, and those returning to running after an extended layoff. Includes a beginner training plan (running program) to get you on your way!
Beat the Doldrums »
In the closing scene of “Finding Nemo,” the “tank gang” from P. Sherman’s dental office finally pull off the escape they’ve dreamt about for years. After Dr. Sherman places them in plastic bags to change the tank water, they roll their bags across the counter to an open window, freefall into the bushes below, then [...]
Money-Saving Tips for Runners »
It has been said more than once that running is a cheap sport. However, when adding up the money I spend on it over a year, I’m not sure I agree. As with everything you do, there are plenty of ways to spend your money. If you want to run along at a budget, try [...]
(The Myth of) The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner »
A Long Time Ago, In A Galaxy Far, Far Away… …some bad things happened in my life. So, I started running. I ran by myself because I needed the “alone time”. Years past and, for some long forgotten reason, I stopped running. Then, some more bad things happened so I started running again but this [...]
Can Running Ruin Your Teeth? »
Recently, I had a disappointing visit to my dentist. “Why so glum” you ask? Well, he found three cavities (tiny ones but still). Honestly, I’ve never had the toughest chompers—even as a kid I struggled with cavities whereas, my brother could chew on stones, never brush his teeth, and still never get a single cavity. [...]
12 Tips to a Terrific Taper »
Springtime is here, and with it come a multitude of spring marathons. If you’re closing in on an upcoming marathon, your actions during the final two weeks before the race are crucial to your performance. From that point on, it’s all about the taper. Tapering is a period of “active rest” when your body recovers [...]
5 Secrets to Balancing Running and Family »
I strongly believe in the value of high mileage, and as such spend a lot of time on the road. Running 80 miles or more per week at my usual training pace of roughly 8 minutes per mile sees me racking up somewhere between 11 and 12 hours each and every week during peak training. [...]
Video of the Week: A Friendly Reminder »
When we train we have good days and bad days. We have runs that work for us and give us confidence and then we have runs that go not so well and make us feel like poseurs who have no business running at all. Aren’t we funny? Well yes. Some of us are funny. Some [...]
An Insider’s Guide to the Boston Marathon »
For most marathoners, making it to the starting line in Hopkinton, Mass., is the completion of a long journey filled with endless miles of training and months of anticipation. But once you make it there, you still have a race to run, and a very difficult and entirely unique one at that. The Boston course [...]
Ethical Running »
It’s not often that ethical dilemmas occur during road races (at least those that don’t involve Rosie Ruiz), but two recent incidents got me thinking about how much responsibility each of us has to watch out for our fellow runners. In a 10K race recently, one of my teammates was up front the entire race, [...]
Featured Web Site: MapMyRun.com »
There is a new—or at least a totally redesigned—player in the route mapping Web space. MapMyRun.com has been online for quite sometime but has just recently released a new and improved beta site. Route mapping sites have become an essential part of my training plan and I think—after a brief review—that this is my new [...]
Don’t Be Nobody »
(Today we introduce Coach Peter, a Washington, D.C.-based runner, avid marathoner and coach with the D.C. Road Runners Club.) I ran a race in the country last summer where a deer came charging out of the underbrush lining the road, bowled a runner over and disappeared into the bushes on the other side. The runner [...]
Featured Web Site: Runners Rescue »
By now many of you are well into your training for upcoming races. Unfortunately injuries are often a part of training. Not sure what to do and looking for information? Runners Rescue offers just that. This sports podiatrist has pooled together information from many of his colleagues and physiotherapists to offer you essential information on [...]
Thoughts on a Month of Slack »
So, I’ve essentially taken a little bit more than a month “off,” thanks to a little bout of “plantar fascitis,” about which you can read much more on the site. And I’m having kind of a hard time getting back on track. I don’t think it’s lack of desire, or lack of willpower—there’s nothing so [...]
Sleep on This »
While listening last year to an archived episode of the Phedippidations podcast, host “Steve Runner” mentions that he got a great night’s sleep on the eve of the Cape Cod Marathon thanks to taking the sleep aid Ambien. It was the first time I’d heard of a runner taking a prescription drug to get some [...]
Diet: More Than Just a Four-Letter Word »
Never underestimate the effects of diet on your running performance. I presume by now we all know that plenty of carbohydrates are a runner’s best friend, and that the steak on the evening of your race won’t actually build your strength just in time for your new personal best. According to the experts, your training [...]
Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance »
I’m a great believer in high mileage. While we all are, as they say, an experiment of one, and no two runners react the same to a certain type of training, a few principles do apply to all of us, and we can always learn from other’s experience. I’ve been a runner for nearly three [...]
QuickLink: Looking for Running Motivation? »
Head on over to Susan’s for some great tips and links to keep you motivated during these cold winter months. Link: Running Motivation
Doggone It! »
Imagine if you will an idyllic trail run. There you are, no one else around, the sounds of nature surrounding you, when suddenly you hear a crashing through the underbrush, and you come face to face with a dog the size of a small car. This is not an uncommon scenario. Here in Edmonton, we have approximately 40 off-leash sites. Many of these areas run through our river
Retail Therapy: Blister Beater Socks »
I don’t know about you, but nothing irks me more than having to pay $8 – $16 for a good pair of running socks. They’re socks! There’s not that much fabric to them. I have the same issue with underwear, but we won’t go there. I don’t have the answers to sock technology but according to Wikipedia, the average foot has 250,000 sweat glands, and the average pair of feet gives
A Different Kind of Runner »
About a month ago I was at a local running store helping register people for a local marathon training program when I overheard an interesting exchange between a newcomer and a coach trying to decide where to place her. “What’s your pace?” he asked. “I have no idea.” she responded.
Expert Fitness Advice for Free »
Our local newspaper runs articles every Friday on endurance sports and athletes. A couple of weeks ago sportswriter Don Norcross asked coaches, trainers and some pretty successful local athletes for fitness tips. Subjects ran the gamut from running, and triathlons to diet and general fitness. You can find them all on the San Diego Union-Tribune web site. I was struck by the numerous mentions on the importance of rest in training
Getting Fit with FitLink »
I recently wrote a review of FitLink.com. The site impressed me and the review I wrote caught the attention of Chris Charlier, one of the founders of FitLink.com. With this, I took the opportunity to ask Chris a few questions about him, the site, and his team’s vision for the future.
Weight Loss and Measuring Up (Or Down) »
Losing weight is one of those perennial goals that people start in earnest this time of year. That includes runners vowing to shave their race times by paring down a few (or more) pounds. And thatís why many of us in the past week have headed to a calorie-counter or weight-loss site to first determine how much we can eat and still lose weight. The Body Mass Index is a popular
Running Away From Home »
On a recent trip to North Carolina, I was reminded how easily travel can affect my running routine—my hydration, nutrition and sleep were all affected simply by being in a new place. As if that wasn’t challenging enough, I also had to think more carefully about when, where and how I would run. Foolishly, I did little to plan ahead, and wound up running alone
Training Tips for the New Year »
This year has almost come and gone. Soon it will be New Year’s Day and the start of a new training calendar. Speaking of which, do you have one to log your workouts on? Logs for tracking/planning 2007 I did a Google search and got a list of over 40,000 some odd logs for tracking [...]
Podcasts for the Endurance Athlete »
EndurancePlanet.com Over the course of the last few months I have been subscribing to the RSS feed from www.enduranceplanet.com and listening to their weekly podcast. Every Monday a new athlete or endurance sport expert is interviewed and the resulting interview posted to the website as a podcast ready for download. Some of the recent interviews [...]
Holiday Gifts for Runners »
Looking for those last minute gift ideas? Here are some easy to find last minute stocking stuffers. Body Glide Runner Ornaments Runner Girl Pendant Magnetic Runner Night Light Sunglasses Lock Laces Warm Gloves Race Charms Inspirational Jewelry Warm Socks Warm Hats Swiss Army Tool Snot Spot Snot Wiper Healthy Snacks Not- So-Healthy Snacks Mini Cliff [...]
Making It All Work: Integrating a Fitness Plan Into Life »
I’m a busy guy. In fact, I’m really, really busy. During the course of a typical day, I’m many things. I’m a full time student, a father of three young boys, a husband to one loving and patient wife, a dedicated employee, a paid on-call firefighter, a moderately consistent writer both here at CompleteRunning.com and [...]
Running with the Dogs »
It doesn’t take too much poking around my blog before you notice that I love my dogs, especially the newest edition to our family, an eight-month old Australian Shepherd named “Donkey.” While frequently too smart for his own good, he’s an excellent watchdog. His drive for running is never-ending. And being this woman’s best friend, [...]
Let It Snow! »
Here in the Great White North, runners in Alberta, Canada, have endured the second greatest snowfall ever recorded for the month of November. Yet training still continues albeit at a modified pace and at times alternate places. Here is a list of Do’s and Don’ts for training in a winter wonderland. DO’S Do dress properly [...]
How to Run Fast–Fast »
One of the more common mistakes that recreational runners make is moving up to long races too quickly. After a few months of running, they set a goal of running a marathon and begin adding a lot of distance to their workouts. That’s all well and good if you’re interested in simply completing a marathon [...]
The Sunscreen Speech »
About 10 years ago a Chicago newspaper columnist dispensed sound advice to graduates that latter became known as The Sunscreen Speech. Mary Schmich’s smart commentary gained wide exposure thanks to an Internet hoax and a schmaltzy Top 40 song using the essay as lyrics. I was reminded of Schmich’s opening line — “Wear sunscreen.” — [...]
Video: How a Canadian Dresses for Winter Running »
This video shows what I wear for running in the Canadian cold. How cold? Really cold but you’ll have to watch to find out just how cold. What you should know about this video is that, with what you see me wearing, I am warm while running. With the right gear, you too can run [...]
Relax Relax Relax Your Way to Better Running »
A Lesson From The Sprinters of the World Have you ever watched a sprinter in slow motion? I’ve always been fascinated with the juxtaposition of muscular effort with relaxation while they run – specifically, the power exhibited in their arms and legs versus the relaxation in their faces. It fascinates me to see someone running [...]
The Myth of the Perfect Training Program »
With all due respect to the myriad of training programs that appear in the pages of running magazines and in books, there is no one generic training program that is the “best.” The simple proof is that two people on the exact same running program can have dramatically different results. This observation is obvious to [...]
How To Make Your Coach Love You »
Maybe you’ve found extra money in your budget, gotten a raise, won the lottery, or received an inheritance that will allow you to hire a coach. Perhaps you have a friend who is willing to coach you for free. Or maybe you joined a running group that has coaching available. What’s the best way to [...]
Speed Training: What to Do and What Not to Do »
Here are some thoughts on speed training adapted from a talk I gave recently to a general audience. [ad#inPost-Big] Do not run intervals too fast. Running intervals too fast is not only possible, but is by far the most common mistake made in doing speedwork. My training logs show that I was running 400-metre repeats [...]
Slow Down, You Move Too Fast »
During my drive for Boston last year, I distinctly remember hammering through nearly every run, thinking to myself, “If I can” t handle a six mile run at x:xx pace, how can I expect to run an entire marathon at that pace?” As race day grew closer, the aches and pains of the effort began [...]
No Excuses »
Sometimes it’s gets boring doing the same old run over and over again with your iPod as your only training companion. While music can be a great asset and motivator to your workouts, have you through about running with a partner, friend, or even a group? Running with a group is sometimes the easiest since [...]
The Hierarchy of Horsepower: Five Rules of the Road »
One of my track club’s most beloved female runners was killed by a motorist last year. She was cooling down from a workout and went to cross a street when the driver of a VW Beetle approached; she crashed into its windshield. The year before, another elite runner suffered broken bones after being mowed down [...]
Ignore the New Rules of Stretching at Your Own Peril »
Most experts agree on why you should stretch: 1. Stretching enhances muscle flexibility, 2. increase’s the body’s range of motion, 3. and can alleviate muscle stiffness. But, as far as most athletes are concerned (that’s you!), the most important thing about stretching is that the three reasons listed above combine to help you a) perform [...]
Night Moves (Dancing in the Dark) »
There’s nothing like running outdoors. It beats the treadmill (a.k.a. dreadmill) any day. The air is fresher outside than in the stale gym filled with other sweaty runners, there’s ever changing scenery instead of a blaring TV, and nobody is waiting for you to finish so they can jump on the treadmill right behind you. [...]
Gettin’ In Gear »
Runners often cite “affordability” as one of the reasons they are initially attracted to the sport. For the most part, the lack of equipment necessary to run translates to a minimum financial investment. A pair of running shoes usually does the trick. Of course, it’s probably more comfortable to run in shorts and a t-shirt [...]
Next Time »
On Sunday October 1, 2006, I ran my first marathon. The experience was exhilarating, exhausting, intense, fun, and rewarding. My family was there and supported me throughout the race and, without them, my finishing would have been in doubt. I struggled for the second half of the marathon (the hard half) and the positive words, [...]
Treadmill Etiquette »
It’s getting to be that time of the year. This is absolutely my favorite time for running outside! The air is crisp and clear; the sun is still shining into the evening after dinner; and trails in my area are blanketed with a soft layer of leaves. In a few short weeks, though, the scales [...]
8 Things Not to Do »
What follows is a compendium of what not to do when you are racing or training. There are generally two categories of bone headedness: too much testosterone and using myself as a human Guinea pig. Whatever you do, try not to do these things to yourself! 1. Wearing new or different shoes in a race. [...]
5 Signs You’re Overdoing It »
You might not have heard of two-time Comrades Marathon winner Lindsay Weight, nor are you probably aware that the South African sports scientist this month mysteriously died at the age of 44. An investigation has been launched to determine what happened before she collapsed in front of her home computer. She reportedly was training for [...]
It’s Not Supposed to Be Easy »
One of the best pieces of advice I ever got came from Olympian Steve Scott. He was talking to a group of us warming up before a long run and asked about our time goals for an upcoming marathon. “How many of you just want to finish?” he asked. About 50 hands shot up. Then [...]
100 Beginner Running Tips »
Welcome to the Complete Running Network 100 Beginner Running Tips where you will find beginner running, racing, training, apparel and shoe selection, motivation and inspiration and runner safety tips.
The Top 5 Tips for Buying Running Shoes »
I often encounter patients who have difficulty in finding the right shoes. Here are some suggestions to help you find the proper pair. 1. Try on shoes later in the day, not in the morning. As the day progresses our feet enlarge due to gravity pulling fluid from our body to its lowest point, our [...]
Running Is Mental »
I know you’ve all heard the adage that “running is 90 percent mental and the rest is physical.” I’m not sure if that ratio is exactly correct (it feels a lot more physical to me), but I do agree that there’s more than a little psychology involved in running. To wit: How come: Six miles [...]
Top 10 Tips for Running Trails Solo and Safe »
I was nervous when I started running trails solo. Seeing other women in greater frequencies out hitting the dirt gave me some added confidence to make the trek without a partner or group. Men and women both have safety concerns they need to be aware of, though women are more likely to be victims and [...]
Five Things We Can Learn From the Elites »
If you’re like most recreational runners, you probably don’t have regular access to a coach. Some of the larger big-city running clubs have coaches on retainer and there a number of very good coaches who make a nice living working with runners remotely via the telephone and e-mail. But for the vast majority of amateurs, [...]
How Do You Keep Running? »
When I first started running, 12 years ago, I ran one block. One block. Then I walked the rest of the mile I had routed out using the odometer on my car. I eventually worked myself up to completing that mile—at a pace of about 15 minutes per mile. At that rate, any dedicated walker [...]
Overtraining: Obvious or Insidious »
Flat and tired. These are two things you don’t want to feel going into a race, but more likely than not, you’ve been there and wondered why this happens. The most likely culprit is overtraining, and I’d like to share some personal experiences I’ve had regarding this frustrating phenomenon. Most runners feel bitterly disappointed when [...]
Five Tips for Running Your First Race »
It’s your first race. You’re mostly calm. You’ve done everything you can to tame those race-day butterflies. You arrived safely at the appropriate race location, and you even figured out where to pick up your bib number. Now what? [ad#inPost-Big] 1. Find the start and finish lines. This may sound elementary, but it’s crucial to [...]
Snakes on a Trail »
Each week I plan to use my li’l piece of real estate on this Web site to link news events to running. Last week, it was tales of Tylenol abuse. This week, I’m going to use the media hype surrounding the release of the summer movie Snakes on a Plane to create a little hisssss-steria [...]
Taming Those Race Day Butterflies »
Everyone gets the race-day-butterflies, that nervous, flip-floppy feeling that keeps us bouncing up our toes and getting back in line for the porta-potty. A small dose of nerves gives us that excited edge that revs up the adrenaline on race day. But what to do when those race-day butterflies wage a full-scale assault? [ad#inPost-Big] Here [...]
10 Ways to Inject Fun Into a Run »
New runners struggle. Veterans get into slumps. We all know them—those times when running becomes more like work than fun. And, most of the time anyway, running should be fun so what do you do when confronted with the running blahs? Look no further because here is the Complete Running Network’s 10-part prescription for injecting [...]
PostPartum Running »
A lot of people ask me what it’s like to start running again after having a baby. My son was born one year ago, and these last twelve months have been the usual whirlwind of finding a new balance between my family, work, and time for myself. It hasn’t always been pretty, but here we [...]
How to Ruin an Otherwise Excellent Run »
The run started well enough, with me and my running group giggling, gossiping and soaking in the multi-million-dollar properties of the rich and famous on a cool, cloudless morning in one of the United States’ priciest ZIP codes. Even when the topography turned torturous and the sun started to scorch, the paradisiacal views and camaraderie [...]
Subscribe by Email
Follow us on Twitter
Stumble This!
Tweet This!
